This has been a ‘problem month’ for Leeds United according to their midfielder Michael Brown. They have just two points from the last six games, with one win in nine including an FA Cup defeat to League 2 Rochdale and, once again, off-field issues are dominating the landscape. It seems maybe Brown's was something of an understatement.
Only Brian McDermott and his players truly know if the prolonged negotiations over the proposed buyout from SportCapital, a British consortium, from current owners GFH are having an impact on performances, but the manager stated earlier this week that the club’s number one priority is getting new owners rather than halting the team's decline on the pitch.
Their two points have come against Barnsley, bottom of the table, and newly-managerless Blackpool, the only team below them in the form table. The Rochdale loss was McDermott’s ‘worst moment in football’ and he felt ‘publicly humiliated’ by the 6-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday two weeks ago. There were signs of improvement, though, in the 1-0 loss to the Championship leaders, Leicester City, last weekend, where they created 14 attempts compared to the visitors' 10 with a smaller share of possession.
A play-off push is by no means out of Leeds' reach: with 20 games still to play, they remain six points off sixth-placed Reading, but the key to ascending the table is a more balanced goalscoring contribution. That Leeds are still in the top half is largely down to Ross McCormack. He has scored 17 of their 35 in the league so far, and has also contributed three assists, meaning he has been directly involved to 57.1% of their goals.
However, it is unsurprising that as McCormack's form has dipped, Leeds' results have deteriorated. It is not quite as simple as saying if the Scotland striker plays well then Leeds will too, but he has contributed to a higher percentage of his team’s goals than any other player in the division.
The only player to carry a team to a similar extent is Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 16 of Blackburn’s 32 with an assist fewer, but for all of his strengths (holding up the ball and, obviously, finding the net) he does not link up with teammates in open play as often as McCormack, who brings teammates into the game more often with an average of 23.8 passes per game in comparison to Rhodes’ 16.5.
McCormack was WhoScored's man of the match in the three games preceding Leeds’ current malaise - scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Wigan, then netting once and adding an assist in both the 3-3 draw with Watford and the 3-0 win at Doncaster. But as Leeds’ performances have worsened, his WhoScored ratings have declined, dropping to 5.41 against Sheffield Wednesday from 9.17 against Doncaster.
This is, barring exceptional circumstances, going to be McCormack’s most prolific season. His previous best was a return of 21 from 38 appearances in the 2007/08 season while at Cardiff, but he cannot carry the team all by himself. Leeds' next top scorer is Matt Smith on seven (he has only started 10 games, coming off the bench 12 times) but beyond that there are three players on two apiece.
The recent additions of Jimmy Kébé and Cameron Stewart will increase their options in terms of chance creation but neither have impressive goalscoring records. Kébé has reached double figures once in his career, scoring 10 for Reading five seasons ago. He did manage five in the Premier League last season but only managed 3 in 33 games before that. Stewart's statistics are slightly more promising with three goals in his loan spell at Charlton but Leeds are his fourth loan club in two seasons and settling is proving an issue.
Of their other attacking options, Luke Varney is far from prolific, having scored just twice in 825 minutes on the pitch this season, and he does do as much for the team's overall play as McCormack, with an average of 18.9 passes per game at completion rate of 59.1%. McCormack's is 77%.
Noel Hunt, whose campaign has been affected by a hamstring injury, failed to score in his eight appearances prior to being sidelined but is nearing a return, while Dominic Poleon has one goal in 330 minutes, though he has been used mostly as a substitute.
The next six games are likely to define their season, with Ipswich and Huddersfield - both in the same upper mid-table bracket - coming to Elland Road next week, along with games against relegation threatened Yeovil and Charlton.
As Burnley can attest, having two players, in their case Sam Vokes and Danny Ings (combined they have scored 72% of their goals), to share the burden is invaluable. Leeds can reach the play-offs but to do so they need others to share responsibility with McCormack. If not, their problem month could easily become a problem season.
Can Leeds get out of their current slump? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
